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Barking and Dagenham Archives at Valence House are delighted to bring you this collection of over 3,500 images taken between 1965 and 1977. They were digitized as part of the Heritage Lottery-funded project 50 Years a Borough, which marked the anniversary of the formation of the London Borough of Barking in 1965 (renamed the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham in 1980).

The photographer, Egbert Smart (1907-1999) was a local librarian and also Official Borough Photographer. His role was to document “every aspect of the Borough’s life, from uneven pavements to Royal visitors”.

If any of these images catch your eye, you can purchase an official high quality photographic print. Just select the size you want in the ‘Buy This Print’ box. Fill in your details and the print will be posted to you.

Valence House is the home of Barking and Dagenham’s local history museum and archives.